New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-19
FATAL EXPLOSION AT SEA.



THE VESSEL BURNED-sURvIvoRs BROUGHT HERE
ON A STEAMER.
The steamer Benefactor, from Wilmington. N. G.,
which reached here yesterday, brought tho cap.
tain aud four Of the creu of the schooner George
s. Marks. of Baltimore, which had burned at sea
after an explosion of part Of her cargo by which
two Of the crew were killed and one fryhtfuIly in
jured.
The Benefactor made fast at the German Ameri-
can Stores, near the Erie Basin. The survivors Of
the crew of the il-fated schooner were Captain
Henderson, Seamen Charles Henry Thompson. of
Surrey County. Va who was so badly burned
about the face and back that he was sent to the
Long Island Ho pita; Daniel Smith. OF Boston:
and Charles Anderson, OF San Francisco. ana
Steward Henry Lewis, of Washington. Cartaln
Henderson after landing took the first train for mis-
homo 10 New-Jersey. From the steward the story
of the Loss Of tho GsSIss M5xs was snS Of
tons burden, left Baltimore on April II bound for
Charleston, s. q. Her cargo was made mp OF sep-
eral merchandise among which were forty barrels,
some Of gasoline and some of kerosene. These
were slowed between decks just abaft OF the main
mast. The voyage down Chesapeake Bay was. with
out incident and the vessel with fair winds made
good speed until tho night of April 10. hep $40
encountered storm, accompanied by terrific light
ming and thunder. The wind blew almost hnrrl'
cane. The sea became rough and the crew put the
schooner under close sails. At midnight the gale
abated somewhat. but the lightning and thunder
continued. The rolling Of the ship howeyer' had
thro wn the oil barrels out Of position and the ship
Aboot $40 o'clock the mate, James Mute, ac-
.a. Sy the to tSs
Thompson won't below to secure the barrels.
Steward Lewis said that there might have been
did not remember it. Mute and "Bob" going
ahead had reached nearly the centre OF the pile OF
barrels Thompson WAS short distance behind
them and the steward was standing close to the
hatchway when there was q fash that filed tie
entire place and terrific explosion that tore away
all the starboard side of the schooner. The stew
ard though badly scared was not burned and he
lost no time in getting on deck. Thompson had
been caught full In the face by the blaze and his
fr" He still xept his senses sufficiently to scramble
up on the deck. As for the mate AID Bob,' all
hands agree in saying that they must have been
blown up, for from the moment of tie explosion
nothing was seen of them.
Captain Henderson was at the wheel hen the
explosion occurred and seamen smith ana nf Amaef1
injury. The .capts In said aiterward that ne
tholght tho schooner had been struck by lightning
name Of his dead mate, crying to him that the
schooner was sinking The flames a!nost az he
spoke envelOped The ship. burning the wes tim0ers
Of the deck as if they had been dry kindng wood.
and licking. at the spars The steward
crept along the port side Of the schooner sp%
through the fire by the wounded and snneflne ei
Thompson. The imperillsd band never lost t1sir
wits, but went TO Work lowering tuo y8"L tno
flames preve nted them from getting an axe and the
boat torn from its fastenngs by their united H
men scrambled into it. They pulled away from
| the burning schooner aud when at safe distance
laid on their oars .and watched 1t BURN 10 tne
| waters edge.
As nearly as he could estimate, the castaways
| were about twenty miles north OF Cape Hatteras.
| They pulled for the land. but owing to the high
waves made slow progress. Nine hours after they
| had left the schooner they were seen and picked
| up by the Benefactor. Among the passenge on
| the steamer were Drs. Harrington. Latham ana
| Malett They rendared all the service in their
power to the Injured sailor Thompson, whose face
The dead mate lived in Baltimore, where he leaves
wife and several chil.ren. hob" the coiorea s
| sail or was Q young man. His home was IN North
| Carolina. The schooner was owned partly by Cap
tain Henderson and partly by 5. T. Marks %,
| of Baltimore who were her agents Ii is thoughe
| that some of the gasoline must have leaked ont or
| the barrels and have been exploded by 1gnt
| carried by either the mate OF tho negro. lt IS
| hardly probable that the en- would have gone IN
the dark to secure the barrels, though both Ihomp
| son and the steward maintain that they did NOS
| remember seeing light.